December 2022: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

Abby H.

 If you are into Organic/Natural/Healthy products, then Social Nature is right up your alley. Sign up and apply to sample products that you are interested in. I get probably 1-2 products to sample each month. And most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

Social Nature has rounded up products that are available to try at a local grocery store or mass merchandiser near you.  Apply to Try the products that interest you to see if you’re a match here.

Here are some of the new sampling opportunities:

      • Lactose-Free Sour Cream by Green Valley Creamery
      • Specialty Nut Butters by Wild Friends
      • Sustainable Dog Treats by Shameless Pets
      • Veggie Pasta by Veggiecraft Farms
      • Dips & Spreads by Litehouse
      • Fresh Frozen Dog Food by Nom Nom

And More!

And one of the things I love about Social Nature is that they don’t leave our friends with food allergies out.

There are sampling offers for Gluten-free, nut-free, and meat-free foods frequently.

Canadian Friends- You are in luck, there are sampling opportunities for you too! So if you love trying new products, check out Social Nature!

12/16/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

I have some pretty exciting news coming up next week. It’s going to change some behind-the-scenes stuff for the blog.

Christmas and Hannukah are next week, and I know a lot of you have already started your New Years Resolutions, including how to save money. I’ll be posting a series of articles starting next week!

Don’t forget all of the 2022 Birthday Freebies! Make sure to check this article out and sign up for birthday freebies at least 2-3 weeks before your birthday. I will be updating for 2023 mid- January.

Freebies:

Free Tootsie Roll Pops at Select Stores
Free Custom Tabby Alert Pet ID Tags
Free Redbox DVD Rental
Free or Nearly Free Bottle of Wine
Verizon Up Rewards – Free $25 Verizon Gift Card
Free Stitch Your Own Penguin Pillow at JCPenney
Free Nina Ricci Fleur Fragrance Sample
Free Wildwonder Sparkling Drink After Rebate
Free Fixodent Sample
Free Snowball Game from Home Depot
Free Erborian CC Cream
Free 9oz Bag of Orgaanika Coffee
Free Glade Product
Free Element Eight Face Cream
Free Sample of Truvia Natural Sweetener
Free Sample of Seomou Moisturizing Face Mask
Free Energize Energy Pills
Free Sample of Downy Unstopables at Sam’s
30 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Ithaca Squeeze Hummus after Rebate

Deals:

Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Austin 4-Piece Hardside Luggage Set ONLY $99.99 (Reg $300)
Victoria’s Secret 40% OFF Sitewide + Shipping Deadline
Kate Spade Tinsel Flap Crossbody 79% Off
Kate Spade Flash Glitter Crossbody ONLY $59 (Reg $279)
Kate Spade – Up to 75% Off + Last Day FREE Shipping Deadline
Save up to 70% Off Boots at DSW + Free Shipping
Kohl’s 60% Off + Last Chance to Order in Time for Christmas
Coach Outlet 70% Off + 20% Off & Free Shipping in Time
Famous Footwear BOGO 50% Off & Last Chance Free Shipping
Last Day to Order – 2022 Christmas Gift Shipping Deadlines
Today ONLY: $3.97 Women’s Holiday T-Shirt at Old Navy

Coupons & Samples from Betty Crocker and General Mills!

Abby H.

If you are like me, one of the ways you save money is with printable coupons and free samples. I love free samples because they usually come with high-value coupons.

If you love to bake, check out these sweet offers from Betty Crocker and Pillsbury! Get exclusive coupons (up to $250 per year in savings), access to free samples (quantities limited – one per member), the hottest recipes, and more.

12/12/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgI’m pausing our  Yasukochi Family Farms CSA box subscription until January as we have a lot going on, and I’m having a hard time cooking all the veggies each week.

Over the weekend I made roasted veggies using Urban Accents Veggie Roaster seasoning blends. I use the Citrus pepper for green beans, and carrots, Italian Squash, and onions. For the baby Brussels Sprouts I use the Balsamic Onion kit. 

I also made spiced apple sauce, which is a kid favorite.

We’ll be having those throughout the week with our dinners.

I cleaned out the fridge and reorganized the freezer, and this really helped me see what we have on hand.

We’ve been trying a lot of new foods lately, thanks to the really great freebies from Social Nature lately too. It’s fun to try new foods.

For those of you that are new to meal planning, I’ve got an easy 101 style post here with super easy tips and steps. After you get that down, here is info about batch or freezer cooking.

I’ve gotten a pretty good inventory of the pantry, freezer, and fridge done (I try to update it after every shopping trip), so I’m able to plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste.

I only post our dinner plans for the week, because our other meals are usually the same each day.

Breakfast: Coffee with 1/2 and 1/2  for me, and pancakes or something along those lines for the kids. They are also into fruit and bagels for breakfast. Lately, the big kid has been digging protein shakes in the morning. This is his favorite kind. 

Lunch: I have a plastic tote in the cupboard full of self-serve snacks. I buy treats and snacks in bulk and fill up snack-sized zip-top bags. The big kid brings his lunch from home every day and the littlest buys her lunch at school about half the time. In California, all public schools provide breakfast and lunch for free.

Dinner: This week looks to be on the slower side, but we’ve still got a lot of holiday fun stuff going on. It’s cold here at night (for California), so I’m turning the oven on to make dinner with greater frequency.

  • Monday: Chicken Pot Pie (recipe later this week), roasted veggies

  • Tuesday:  Baked mac and cheese, Spiced Apple Sauce

  • Wednesday: Nuggets, fruit, crackers, and cheese (the typical Wednesday night dinner)

  • Thursday:  Shakshuka, Sourdough toast, fruit salad

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday: Breakfast for dinner (egg and veggie scramble, toast, fruit salad)
  • Sunday:  Leftovers

Recipe: Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Abby H.

A few weeks ago my mom and I cooked a dinner for 50 people as part of our local SCA group’s winter event. Most of the recipes were historical in nature, however, this Chicken Gnocchi soup is not strictly historically accurate for our group (pre-1603ish), as most people in Europe didn’t consume potatoes or potato gnocchi. The gnocchi did exist, however, it was usually made from cheese, flour, and eggs (example and recipe here).

This soup is a great complete meal. It freezes well and makes a great gift.

I’ve scaled down the recipe to make it a little easier to prepare for the average size family.

Chicken Gnocchi Soup Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

  • 2 T. Butter
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 ribs of celery, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 T. Italian Seasoning
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 2 cups of chicken cooked and cut into bite-size pieces- leftover rotisserie chicken is perfect for this.
  • 1 quart chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 1 lb. package of Potato Gnocchi
  • 12 ounces of your favorite milk (I used 1/2 and 1/2)- evaporated milk is a good choice too.

Directions:

  1. In a large stockpot, melt butter, and add onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until onions are translucent (about 10 minutes).
  2. Add garlic, and herbs/bay leaf- cook until fragrant.
  3. Add broth, and scrape brown cooked bits off the bottom of the pot.
  4. Add chicken, and simmer on low for about 20-30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
  5. Add in Potatoe Gnocchi and allow to cook on medium for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep gnocchi from sticking together.
  6. Finally, add in your milk of choice. Bring soup back up to a simmer for 10-ish minutes.

Serve topped with parmesan cheese. I also like this soup served with a salad like this one.

Dietary Substitutions:

  • If you are Dairy Free, use Dairy Free milk. I recommend nut milk like unsweetened almond milk.
  • If you are a vegetarian, use vegetable stock and substitute chicken for 1 can of rinsed and drained chickpeas/garbanzos.
  • If you are vegan, do the 2 above recommendations and saute veggies in olive oil instead of butter.
  • If you are Gluten Free, use GF Gnocchi, like these.

12/9/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

I’ve been spending a lot of time working extra hours at my day job and doing surveys for extra cash for the holidays and beyond. The kids and I have a lot of changes coming up over the next few months, and I’m trying to prepare as much as I can.

I may not be posting as much on the blog coming up. Honestly, blogging doesn’t pay as much or offer as many perks as it used to, and I need to spend time and make choices that allow me to take care of my kids (and the cat too). Work smarter, not harder.

Don’t forget all of the 2022 Birthday Freebies! Make sure to check this article out and sign up for birthday freebies at least 2-3 weeks before your birthday. I will be updating for 2023 mid- January.

Freebies:

Free Thankful for Literacy Poster
Free Private Selection Bagged Coffee at Kroger
Free Sample of Ostofresh Liquid Deodorant
Free 8×10 Photo Print at Walgreens
Free Slater’s 50/50 Beef & Bacon Hot Dogs after Rebate
Free Medium Soup or Side at Wawa
5,000 Free Black Box Wines Rewards Points
Free NutriCelebrity Stress-Free New Year Party Pack
Free Heyday Chickpeas or Beans at Sprouts
Free Subscription to Conde Nast Traveler Magazine
Free Wish List Painted Rocks at Michaels
Free Brilliant Earth Ring Sizer
Free L’Oreal Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum Sample
Free Primal Kitchen Buffalo Mayo
Free Fur Buddies Pet Products
Free Sambrosa Sweet Dreams Night Syrup
Free Sample of Downy Unstoppables at Sam’s
Free Trimona A2a2 Bulgarian Yogurt
Free Sub at Firehouse Subs for Jamar, Andrew & Lisa
Free La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen Sample
Free Nars Perfecting Powder
Free Litehouse Dips & Spreads
Free Pizza at Uno Pizzeria
Free Subscription to Architectural Digest
Free 1-Year of Paramount+ for T-Mobile & Sprint Customers
Free 3D Cookie Cutter Kit for Xfinity Rewards Members
Free No7 Beauty & Skincare Products
Free Sour Patch Kids at Select Stores
Free Cheez-It Puff’d at Sam’s
Free Zatarain’s Blackened Seasoned Sausage after Rebate
Free Gingerbread House or Reindeer Stable at JCPenney
Free Photo with Santa & More at Bass Pro Shops

Today ONLY: Save 10% off TARGET GIFT CARDS!!

Abby H.

This is a freaking RUN deal!

Though today, score 10% off Target Gift Cards- In Store or online. Make sure to add the Target offer to your app.

And if you are a RedCard holder, you’ll get your usual extra 5% off.

There is a limit of $500 in gift cards, it’s an amazing deal.

If you haven’t checked out Target Circle lately, there are all sorts of great deals, especially on toys ($10 off $50 and $25 off $100), and all sorts of gift deals for big people too.

Click here to get started!

Q-insights 2 upcoming studies -Pays $200-$250

Abby H.

QI-logoNOslogan.pngQ-insights is another company where I do research groups, focus groups, and online surveys to earn extra money.

They have a lot of stuff in South Orange County, and less often in San Diego County. This upcoming survey takes place virtually!

They are currently recruiting for 2 studies:

Study 1- Blender Study – Only interviews will run from December
14th-December 15th .  It will pay $100  as thank you for your time.
Please note that this study has a homework assignment that will pay an
additional $100

If you are interested in participating please fill out the survey
here. If you pre-qualify they will call you to ask some additional
qualifying questions.

Study 2 – Social Media Study- An online blog will run from December
12th-December 16th .  It will pay $250  as thank you for your time.

If you are interested in participating please fill out the survey
here. If you pre-qualify we will call they to ask some additional
qualifying questions.

12/3/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

It’s cold outside! We’ve been spending a lot of time snuggling under warm blankets and drinking cocoa.

Don’t forget all of the 2022 Birthday Freebies! Make sure to check this article out and sign up for birthday freebies at least 2-3 weeks before your birthday.

 

Freebies:

Free Santa Letters Mailbox from Home Depot
Free Febreze Plug-In at Walmart
Free Johnson’s Face & Body Cream
Free Sample of Advil Dual Action
Free Sour Patch Kids at Select Stores
Free Depend Sample Kits for Men & Women
Free L’Oreal Paris Serum & Sunscreen
Macy’s Review Squad – Free Products
Free Cheez-It Puff’d at Sam’s
Free Paper Towels
Free Snow Globe Craft Kit at Joann
Free Netflix Jr Magazine
Free 2023 Erie & Arts Calendar
Free Aveeno Kids Product
Free Maddy’s Sweet Shop Shortbread Cookies
Free Equality for All Sticker
Free FRISKA Women’s Daily
Free Sample of Erborian CC Cream
Free Sample of WowButter Creamy Peanut Free Toasted Soy Spread
New Free Samples from Sampler
Free Subscription to Wine Spectator Magazine
Verizon Up Rewards – Free Cheryl’s Cookie Card
Free Johnson’s 2-in-1 Products
Free Men’s Shaver
Free Zippo Lighter
Free Sample of Downy Unstoppables at Sam’s
Have an iPhone? Score Free $5 Paypal Cash in 1 Week
Free 8×10 Photo Print at Walgreens
Free Premier Protein Product

Deals:

Dash Gingerbread Mini Waffle Maker ONLY $7.99 (Reg $13)
Today Only: 60% Off Coats & Jackets for the Family at Old Navy
Wild Fable Puffer Jacket ONLY $16.80 (Reg $28)
HP 27-In Full HD IPS Computer Monitor ONLY $129.99 (Reg $270)
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
18 Ultimate Arcade Action Figures ONLY $30 (Reg $100)
Kate Spade Schuyler Medium Dome Satchel ONLY $75 (Reg $349)
Fire TV Stick Lite w/ Alexa Voice Remote ONLY $14.99 (Reg $30)
Nintendo Switch Wired Switch Pro Controller ONLY $9.99 (Reg $20)
Kids Smart Watches ONLY $19.99 (Reg $65)
Sharper Warming & Cooling Wrap Pad ONLY $14.69 (Reg $30)
Cuisinart 10-Pc Animal Print Cutlery Set ONLY $14.99 (Reg $40)

Free Food Resources for December 2022(San Diego County)

Abby H.

A new month means a reminder about all of the free food options there is here in San Diego County.

Because of the upcoming holidays, you may notice that some locations will be advertising additional distributions or special Thanksgiving or Winter Holiday meal giveaway events. As information about these events becomes available, I will be sharing them.

Keep in mind there are still supply chain issues, so there may not be a lot of food at some distributions, especially those that serve a large portion of the community.

I recommend showing up a little early with a bottle of water and a book and waiting in line. Time passes quickly in these lines, and it’s a great time to learn from others about community food options. Remember to socially distance and follow local masking regulations.

You can find resources here for Central and East County, and Here for North County.

The Rock Church, which has many locations all over San Diego County has a food and diaper pantry distribution at many of its locations throughout the month. More info can be found here.

Our friends at Faith Chapel are super ahead of the game and sent out information regarding their 2022 food distributions early on in the year.

If you are located outside San Diego County, call 211. If you are not familiar with 211, here is their website and it can point you in the right direction.

San Diego Food Bank Distributions for December 2022 can be found here. Enter your address (or just your zip code) and the map will show you all of the distributions in your area or closest to you. You can filter by the days of the week to find food when you are available. If there is an income requirement/limit to participate, each location/listing will say such. You can learn more here about the Feeding San Diego Together Tour.

Neighbor distributions are intermixed with the San Diego Food Bank Distributions, however, they have no income requirements, and you come as you are. These Distributions are primarily fruits & veg, however, some locations may also distribute canned goods, dairy, and bread.

If you know of other resources, please leave a comment! And feel free to share this post with anyone you may know in need.